[gPXE] gPXE, nc380t (bcm5706 / bnx2) sanboot iscsi connectivity and BIOS issues

[Marcin Kosieradzki]

Thank you for help.

2009/11/19 Shao Miller <Shao.Miller at yrdsb.edu.on.ca>:

> There are two Control-B prompts from gPXE, one during POST and another when
> it's gPXE's turn to boot.  In general, it's best to avoid the POST-time
> prompt, since gPXE will get going before POST has completed, and we've seen
> scenarios where the memory map is incomplete.  Also, other devices might not
> have initialized, such as a RAID controller providing an INT 0x13 hook for
> HDD access.

I didn't realize that. Unfortuately I see only one prompt. I am afraid
this is the one during POST...
So it might explain my issues, but I still hope it's bnx2 driver issue...

This also makes me a bit affraid that Intel PRO/1000 ET will not be
able to boot-up with nc380 inside if it will allow full cycle of
POST..

> It's possible to run out of option ROM space by having too many option
> ROMs.  Removing cards or possibly disabling them in BIOS setup might help.
This is highly possible, but I didn't realize that when I was flashing
my nc380t (which is dual-chipset).

I have 75KB gPXE for first chipset and unknown size HP iSCSI boot in
second chipset - I didn't disable.- my serious fault.
This leaves 53 KB for VGA and HP iSCSI so I have probably irreversibly
damaged my NIC.

> I've seen a gPXE ROM recently rebooting a particular model I have here, much
> as you've described.  I'll try to find the time to look into it.
Thanks.
That's not critical issue for me because I do not use VSA board for
any serious application.

> Note that recently I tried to SAN-boot an HP ProLiant ML370 G5 computer, but
> the Windows had a Blue Screen of Death.  Quite familiar with SAN-booting,
> this suggests to me that the Windows NIC drivers might not be capable of
> completing the SAN-boot; perhaps they rely on user-land components or
> perhaps there's a filter driver that needs to be found and enabled at
> boot-time.  I don't know if this relates to your situation at all, but
> wanted to share.
I hope it will work with intel stuff and Windows 2008 R2, because in
Intel *marketing*
stuff there is a lot about iSCSI boot feature... I have also browsed
support section and
there are lots of tools to do this. It seems to be quite-well supported -
opposite to HP nc380T.

>
> Good luck!
Thanks!